News

EA Kicks FIFA Soccer 2004 Into Stores

The World’s Top-Selling Sports Franchise Adds Revolutionary “Off the Ball” Control and EA SPORTS Nation Online Play

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Wednesday, November 5, 2003 – FIFA Soccer 2004, the deep and authentic videogame from Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) that allows users to play the world’s most popular sport with the world’s greatest teams and players, is now available in stores under the EA SPORTS™ brand. Complete with the revolutionary new Off The Ball™ Control, comprehensive game modes, and benchmark presentation, FIFA Soccer 2004 offers the most authentic soccer gaming experience available.

Off The Ball Control adds a revolutionary dimension to gameplay, allowing control of both the man on the ball and the men off it. Timing runs, anticipating moves, and jostling for space adds a new dimension to soccer gaming that puts players in charge of realistic soccer play and tactics like never before. Along with the gameplay innovations, new Latin American teams and clubs from the lower divisions across Europe highlight the 18 leagues, 450 teams, and a whopping 15,000 players available for play in FIFA Soccer 2004.

EA SPORTS Nation provides the ultimate interactive experience through online gameplay* for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The game features an online lobby area where gamers can meet, greet, chat, and play head-to-head matches, while EA SPORTS™ Talk (USB Headset and Broadband connection required) allows users to talk to each other in-game.

Developed by Electronic Arts Canada, FIFA Soccer 2004 is available on the PlayStation®2 console, PlayStation game console, Nintendo GameCube™, Game Boy® Advance, the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft, and the PC. FIFA Soccer 2004 is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB and MSRP $49.95 for console and $39.95 for GBA and PC. The game’s official website is www.fifasoccer2004.com.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling titles and franchises include John Madden Football™, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, MVP Baseball™, NCAA® Football, and NASCAR Thunder™.

*PlayStation 2 online play requires Internet connection and Network Adaptor for PlayStation 2 (sold separately).

ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS
Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of $2.5 billion for fiscal 2003. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA GAMES™, and EA SPORTS BIG™. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, EA GAMES, Off the Ball, John Madden Football, and MVP Baseball are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Official FIFA licensed product. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. Player names and likenesses used under license from The International Federation of Professional Footballers "(FIFPro)", national teams, clubs, and/or leagues. NBA, NCAA, NFL, NASCAR, NASCAR Thunder, NHL, and FIFA are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Game Boy and Nintendo GameCube are trademarks of Nintendo. Microsoft and Xbox are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.